Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Israeli Idan Raichel would be an awesome Eurovision entry. Or at least interval act in Tel Aviv next year! Singer-songwriter and musician known internationally for his fusion of electronic and folk music, Hebrew, Arab and Ethiopian music and texts with some gypsy music, tango and jazz thrown in making a mix that is still easy to listen to, catchy and most of all very beautiful and melodic. Real music. He uses a lot of other vocalists on his songs making them all unique and bringing global success. As Israel is again using the talent show for their next entrant maybe he could at least the song for the winner...? After all he has written and collaborated with many other stars, including Italian superstars Mina and Adriano Celentano in Amami amami .  Listen to Po co ,   Chalomot shel acherim , Mon amour , Todas las palabras , and he also collaborated with Portuguese Eurovision opening act Ana Moura in Sabe Deus . 

  Brazilian bossanova-tropicalia-folk rock legend Caetano Veloso will join the list of already impressive guest stars in the coming Eurovision song contest 2018 in Lisbon such as fado legends Mariza and Ana Moura. He will be performing with the reigning champion Salvador Sobral.  Veloso (75) along with his sister Maria Bethania (who this blogger saw live in Lisbon a long time ago and fell in love with) and Gilberto Gil are among the best known Brazilian musicians globally, and have shaped the Brazilian music as we know it today. He has won ten Grammys and Latin Grammys and countless other awards and released 34 studio albums since 1967 as well as 17 live albums and countless compilations. I'm loving how RTP is showcasing the Portuguese languagee culture and giving us the best of it. Next I expect Ronaldo will be announced as the one starts the final voting.... (Eurovision link here: Italy's Franco Battiato borrowed the refrain to his Cuccurucucu in his 1981 album ...

I'm liking the sound of it. If Finns went all for heavy rock in Helsinki 2007 - that being the most succesful Finnish music genre abroad and besides, Finland has the most heavyrock bands per capita in the world - Portuguese are doing the same with their very own music genre: fado. Besides the reigning Eurovision winner Salvador Sobral also fado megastars Ana Moura and Mariza will perform in the final, and even together. For the first time. Ever.  Ana Moura (38) has beeen around for 15 years already. She has sung with The Rolling Stomes and late Prince travelled to Lisbon to work with her. Five albums to date (two #1's and 4 top-5). She has also collaborated with Italian Pacifico in Pioggio sul mio alfabeto .  Mariza (44) has sold over a million albums globally and continues to tour the world. After legendary Amália Rodrigues death Mariza explodes as her musical heiress and soon became the queen of new fado. She sung with Sting in the Athens Olympic games  H...

The charity concert for the forest fire victims in Pedrógão Grande and bordering areas is becoming a huge and heartfelt affair in Portugal. The broadcast from MEO Arena in Lisbon will be live on television as well - in all channels! Yes, RTP, SIC and TVI have all got on same boat for the good cause, and all the Portuguese radio stations will join in as well. The income obtained will be delivered to the Union of Portuguese Misericórdias to help the victims and rebuilding the area. Participating artists are AGIR, Amor Electro, Ana Moura, Aurea, Camané, Carlos do Carmo, Carminho, D.A.M.A, David Fonseca, Diogo Piçarra, Gisela João, Hélder Moutinho, João Gil, Jorge Palma, Luísa Sobral, Luís Represas, Matias Damásio, Miguel Araújo, Paulo Gonzo, Pedro Abrunhosa, Raquel Tavares, Rita Redshoes, Rui Veloso, Salvador Sobral and Sérgio Godinho - a mix of Portuguese music legends and newer artists.